SAPPERS from 8 Armoured Engineering Squadron of 26 Engineer Regiment enabled a successful assault river crossing of the River Weser for officers and staff from across 3rd (UK) Division.

Nearly 100 senior British and German Army officers gathered to observe Exercise Iron Dice - a capability demonstration in which soldiers crossed 76 metres of flowing river using amphibious bridge-building rigs and assault boats.

In the event of an attack on a military ally, the ability to rapidly transport large numbers of troops across a wide variety of terrain is an essential skill and rivers can present a problem.

With that in mind, a capability demonstration saw the most senior officers from across 3 Div brought in to observe different ways to cross the river in northern Germany without getting a single boot wet.

Coordinating the covert assault river crossing by rowing across the Weser, is recent Sandhurst graduate, 2nd Lieutenant Madeline Hudson of 26 Engineer Regiment:

“It’s been an amazing opportunity. I thought it would be a bit more nerve-wracking but fortunately, we have a really supportive Squadron HQ.”